In a land where power and deception reign supreme, two unlikely heroes find their fates intertwined in a battle against a malevolent force.
Kelvin, a daring thief, gets caught in a perilous mission to steal a prized horse, only to discover that his...
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As I crouched low, barely daring to breathe, the soldiers surrounded me. The blonde leader seemed to sense my presence, his eyes narrowing as he approached my hiding spot. My heart pounded in my chest, every instinct screaming at me to run, but I knew it would be futile. The men closed in, and before I could react, strong hands grabbed me and hauled me to my feet.
"Who are you?" the leader demanded, his tone harsh.
"Kelvin Fitzgilbert."
"How did you get so far away from the battlefield?" he asked, looking at me with skeptical eyes.
"I... I barely survived the battle," I stammered, my mind racing to come up with a believable story. "I got delirious and lost my way."
He studied me intently, his piercing gaze searching for any sign of deceit. After a long, tense moment, he nodded. "Keep moving," he ordered his men. "We'll take care of his wound when we reach the river."
"Yes, Sir Luca."
Luca?
The soldiers hoisted me to my feet, and we continued our journey. Every step sent a sharp jolt of pain through my side, but I forced myself to keep up. The forest was dense, its underbrush thick and rough.
As we walked, Luca stayed close by, his eyes never straying far from me. After what felt like an eternity, we finally reached the river. The water was a welcome sight; its gentle flow rang in our ears. Luca signaled for a halt, and the men quickly set up a makeshift camp.
"Sit down," Luca commanded, gesturing to a flat rock near the water's edge. I did as I was told, wincing as I lowered myself onto the cool stone. The soldiers gathered around, their expressions a mix of curiosity and wariness.
One of the soldiers, a burly man with a scar running down his cheek, knelt beside me and began to examine my wound. "This is going to hurt," he warned, pulling out a small flask of clear liquid. He poured it over the gash, and I winced in pain as the alcohol bit into the open flesh.
As the soldier worked, Luca crouched down beside me, his expression serious. "Since we found you, you'll be coming with us to the city. It would be beneficial to have another man anyway." I nodded, knowing I had no choice if I wanted to keep my head attached to my body. My mind was still awhirl with questions.
"Why is the Regent of the Rebellion going so deep into enemy territory?" I asked.
"Aurora," he replied, his voice low. The name sent a jolt through me, stirring memories of the rumors I'd heard. The princess was supposedly killed in the fire, but her body was never found leaving people speculating that she was still out there somewhere.
"Do you really believe she's still alive after all this time? The rebellion has bigger problems than chasing after a princess who might just be a legend, don't you think?"
